Four vehicles torched in Orissa

Berhampur, Jan 19 (Agencies): Suspected Maoists torched at least four vehicles of a contractor at Baragada area in Ganjam district on Tuesday night, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place on the eve of Kandhamal bandh which has been called by the outlawed CPI (Maoist). The supporters of Maoists had blocked the road connecting Sorada in Ganjam district and Daringibadi in Kandhmal district.

The bandh call was given in protest against the killing of nine Maoists by the police near Kashipur in Rayagada district on January 9 last.

Around a dozen mask-covered rebels allegedly raided the camp at Borada under Baragada police station limit and set afire at least three vehicles, parked there.

They also set fire to another vehicle at Rangagudi, near the camp. The ultras also took away a motorcycle from the camp, the police said.

The rebels pasted two posters on the spot asking the contractor to stop using machines in the construction work and to pay adequate wage to the labourers.

One Girish Chandra Nayak of Sorada was constructing the road from Baroda to Goudagotha under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). He set up a makeshift camp at Borada village to execute the work.

Meanwhile, vehicular traffic from Berhampur to Daringibadi and Bramhnaigaon was disrupted as the ultras blocked the road by cutting trees near Gajalabadi village.

Though not sure, police suspected it to be handiwork of Maoists. “We are inquiring it from all angles” DIG (southern range) RK Sharma said. Some locals were detained in this connection, he said.

Precautionary measures have been taken with deployment of adequate forces in the border areas.